Homework for Monday and Articulation

We were in the PAC Thursday and Friday for articulation, and we listened to the counselors give you the background you need in order to make your class selections for next year.  If you were absent for any of those days, you will need to see your counselor to get the articulation form.  This form needs to be completed and turned in to ME by February 21.  If you fail to turn in a form, your counselor will pick out your classes and there will be no changes.

We've also been working on the "I Have a Dream" chart, looking for the techniques Dr. King used in order to effectively present his argument. That chart will be due first thing on Monday.  Although we watched the speech in class, it might be helpful to watch it again.  Information that looks flat on a piece of paper might become more clear if you can hear the inflection in Dr. King's voice.  The "I Have a Dream" speech is famous, so it will be easy for you to find on YouTube.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Research

We'll be spending this week with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his famous "I Have a Dream Speech."  We'll be dissecting his speech, looking at his argument, his diction, his presentation skills, and his background.  We begin this investigation with some research into his background to find out what influenced him. How did he become such a great speaker?  What techniques did he utilize to make his arguments?  How can we incorporate our own experiences to find our own voices and to articulate our beliefs most effectively?

The first entry into your notebook for this new semester, titled "Martin Luther King Notes," should have a master list of information that the class shared on Dr. King.  If you don't have this list, get it from a classmate.

Also, remember to bring your Independent Reading Book with you every day; if you don't, you will receive a lunch detention.

Midterms, Book Reviews, and Reminder for Monday

We are in Midterm mode today, tomorrow, and Friday.  Make sure you bring your IRB on Monday; I'll be checking to see that you have your own book or a book signed out from my bookshelves.  If you don't meet this requirement, you will have lunch detention.

OVERDUE BOOK REVIEWS
Many of you still have not shared a book review; you may still due so, but you will lose 10 points for lateness.
 

Reminder

Just a reminder to bring your notebook on the day you take the Midterm for my class as I will be doing a Notebook Check (worth 100 points).

Book Review

You worked on your Book Review today.  Here is a link to the requirements.  I expect approximately one page, roughly 3-5 paragraphs.  Everyone responds to Numbers 1-3.  Parts A-F in #3 are for people reading fiction; part G is for people reading non-fiction.  The deadline is Saturday, Jan.18, at 2pm.

Have a great Martin Luther King, Jr. weekend, and see you on Tuesday.

Info on Book Review and Midterm

Today was a "catch up" day.  We reviewed terms and concepts that will be on next week's Midterm, and I gave a preview on what will be expected on tomorrow's Book Review.  There was also some class time to get Notebooks up-to-date.   Here is a link to the terms and concepts for the Midterm.  

Tomorrow's blog will have the requirements for the Book Review.

Here is a list of what should be in your Notebook (Notebook Check will be on the day of the Midterm): Power Point Notes, Argument or Persuasion in 12 Angry Men, Argument or Not?, Logos Pathos Ethos Review, Logos Pathos Ethos Quiz, Jeremy Irons Questions, Support, Bob Costas, Connotation/Denotation, and Mood Paragraph.  You will find most of these assignments on past blogs.

Connotation/Denotation

In your notebook, under the heading Connotation/Denotation, write the following: A connotation is an association that readers might have with a specific word.  An example is the different associations brought up by the words "pride" and "arrogance."  While the two words have similar meanings, "pride" generally has positive associations while "arrogance" carries negative associations.  Denotation refers to the direct meaning of a word, usually the one you find in the dictionary.  There is no emotional association to the word.

Sensing the difference between connotation and denotation will help you detect bias in the articles you look at when you are researching your debate topic, and it will help you to notice if you and/or your debate opponents are using emotionally-charged words to make your points when you should be using logic.

There are two assignments that will give you some practice with this concept. 
Here is a link to the first assignment.  Write the answers on a separate piece of paper and turn it in.  Here is a link to the second assignment. Rewrite the paragraph in your notebook under the title, Mood Paragraph.